Buffalo Bills News - September 29, 2003

Buffalo sports books hit market [9:39 AM]Buffalo Business Jornal reports:
Sal Maiorana, who covers the Bills and golf for the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, has released a book called, "Game Night in Buffalo -- A Town, its Teams and its Sporting Memories." Published by Western New York Wares Inc., the 156-page publication takes a look back at 25 notable games and performances in the city's sports history.

Randy Schultz, a free lance writer and reporter for Western New York Hockey magazine, has released a book, "Legends of the Buffalo Bills," published by Sports Publishing, LLL, of Champaign, Ill.. The book focuses on the players, coaches, owners and media who have shaped the franchise.

Business Notes - 2003-09-29 [9:38 AM]Buffalo Business Journal reports:
Choice One Communications signed a five-year extension of its telecommunications service and marketing agreement with the Buffalo Bills. The Rochester-based company remains the official telecommunications provider for the Bills and Ralph Wilson Stadium. Choice One's association with the team, which includes in-stadium signage, Choice One Club naming rights, business-to-business marketing, game tickets, special events and community outreach, has also been expanded.

Optimism surges over future of Bills, Sabres [9:33 AM]Buffalo Business Journal reports:
Seventy-five percent of local adults now predict that the Buffalo Bills will still be playing here in 2010. Fifty-four percent say the same about the Buffalo Sabres.

How Desperate Is Desperate? [9:02 AM]WGRZ.com reports:
'For the Eagles to walk into a packed and energized Ralph C. Wilson stadium -- and take the opening kickoff right down the field to a touchdown -- means this Bills defense is not even close to championship caliber.'

Eagles find momentum as McNabb gets rhythm [9:00 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Philadelphia held the ball for more than 13 minutes of the first quarter and built a 10-0 lead. The Eagles were up 13-0 at halftime, and McNabb led them on a 14-play drive late in the third quarter for a 16-0 lead. He didn't beat the Bills with his arm but with his head. He was smiling afterward and that, alone, was a change from the first few weeks.'

As No. 2 wideout, Reed needs to try harder [9:00 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Let's be honest, though. Eric Moulds' fellow wideouts are a big part of the problem. Everyone wanted to believe this team wouldn't miss Peerless Price. They'd be more balanced, right? They'd win with defense and a strong running game. Reed didn't have Price's speed, but he was a gifted receiver, a tough runner, and he'd be more than adequate.'

Eagles take Bills to school after learning their lesson [8:59 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"We knew that they had struggled a little bit this season in running the ball, and we knew that their best running back was out," Simon said. "So we just had to go out there and not have a letdown."'

Burns' debut not a stellar one [8:58 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"I'm not the one to make that decision," Burns said of the Bills' lack of commitment to the running game. "I just go and execute the play that is called to the best of my ability. I just have to go out and do what they tell me to do."'

Monday Billboard [8:58 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Taking a penalty for too many men on the field is understandable every once in a while, but the Bills' defense had no excuse for getting flagged for playing with 12 men on the first play from scrimmage.'

Optimism surges over future of Bills, Sabres [6:48 AM]Business First of Buffalo reports:
'Seventy-five percent of local adults now predict that the Buffalo Bills will still be playing here in 2010. Fifty-four percent say the same about the Buffalo Sabres.'

One for the birds [5:39 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'Goodbye to that fast 2-0 start. Hello to the mediocrity of 2-2.'

Bills' strutters take a stumble [5:38 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'As far as we could tell, Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher were not injured in Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. That didn’t stop the Buffalo Bills’ high-profile linebacking duo from leaning on some old verbal crutches after Sunday’s troubling 23-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Ralph Wilson Stadium.'

Early hype is blown away [5:37 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'This morning it feels a little like more recent days — circa 2001 and 2002 — with the Bills licking their wounds after another sound beating.'

Eagles grind it out [5:36 AM]Toronto Sun reports:
'With McNabb running, passing and controlling the show, the Eagles ate up the clock and spit out the Bills like a gnawed-over chicken wing.'

Bills fail to attack Eagles' Achilles heel [5:35 AM]Toronto Sun reports:
'"They made it known that no matter what the formation was, they were going to double team," Moulds said. "What can you do? We have to get out there and make plays."'

Bills pay penalty with loss [5:34 AM]Toronto Star reports:
'The Buffalo Bills made a real game of it late against the Philadelphia Eagles. Problem was, they had made such a mess out of it early.'

Eagles fly on back of pivot [5:33 AM]Toronto Star reports:
'Buffalo is more set back than finished here, in need of a running component to take the heat off Bledsoe. The Bills apparently can't win without Bledsoe at his very best, especially with running back Travis Henry inactive, as he was with a rib problem. They have three winnable games approaching (Bengals, Jets, Redskins) and there's nothing wrong with their defence that more rest might not cure, although a warning here: Takeo Spikes, accused of being such a great leader when things were going well, pulled a no-comment with the media. Stand-up guys are there for any result.'

Eagles get possessive [5:32 AM]Syracuse Post Standard reports:
'Buffalo running back Travis Henry missed Sunday’s game with bruised ribs, which contributed to the Bills’ anemic running game. But the Bills stepped in too many other minefields to overcome their lack of a rushing attack. They bumbled their way to 10 penalties and through the first three quarters allowed the Eagles to dominate time of possession. They also converted just six of 15 third-down plays.'

McNabb disproves doubters [5:31 AM]Syracuse Post Standard reports:
'Now, the 26-year-old McNabb didn’t treat the Bills on Sunday as he did Clemson in 1996 or East Carolina in 1997 or Miami in 1998. But the one-time Orange posterboy, who has since morphed into the highest-paid athlete in the history of professional football, was good enough. Moreover, he was back to being the Donovan everybody has long known.'

Working ground game into mix works [5:30 AM]Philadelphia Daily News reports:
'For only the second time in their last nine games, the Eagles ran the ball more than they threw it.'

McNabb quiets the theorists [5:29 AM]Philadelphia Daily News reports:
'"Donovan made some very good plays," Bills coach Gregg Williams said. "He's going to make those kind of plays. People have been wondering when he would and he stepped up and made some today."'

Young secondary grows up fast [5:28 AM]Philadelphia Daily News reports:
'"We were going to match Troy up on Moulds the whole game," Johnson said. "I didn't know how Sheldon Brown was going to match up against Moulds. Then Hood had to play a lot. We played a lot of nickel on first and second down...They grew up and learned how to play."'

Thrash, McNabb click on big third-down play [5:27 AM]Philadelphia Daily News reports:
'They had a third-and-7 at their own 23 and were staring at the very real prospect of handing the ball back over to Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe, with more than enough time on the clock for the Bills to drive down for a game-winning score.'

Akers proves to be Birds' best kicker [5:26 AM]Philadelphia Daily News reports:
'In the Eagles' 23-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills, Akers kicked field goals of 26, 34 and 22 yards, as automatic as ever on a windy, rainy day in upstate New York, a day when big, dark clouds took turns racing by. He now has 92 field goals for this team since arriving in 1999, the most-ever by an Eagles kicker.'

That was no cheap shot on Milloy [5:25 AM]Philadelphia Daily News reports:
'Fraley's hit wasn't quite late. He avoided a flag. But Milloy, enraged, went at Fraley, and the yellow hanky fluttered: 15 yards, unnecessary roughness, automatic first down for the Eagles on the Bills' 35. Eventually, David Akers kicked a 26-yard field goal that gave the Birds a 10-0 first-quarter lead, matching their point total for the first two games.'

Unlocking the keys [5:24 AM]Philadelphia Daily News reports:
'Key No. 1: Shut down the Bills' running game. What happened: Held the Bills to just 21 yards on 12 carries.'